RESUMO
BACKGROUND: relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare multisystem disease of unknown etiology, characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and cartilage destruction. The aim was to present fifteen cases, analyzed in a clinical and therapeutic perspective. METHODS: fifteen cases from three different cities of Mexico, diagnosed with Damiani criteria, were included. Clinical features, treatment given and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: nine men and six women with mean age of 52.4 years met the criteria for RP; the average change was 86.7 months. The dominant clinical manifestations were: 83 % auricular chondritis, 66 % dysphonia, 60 % arthritis and 53 % with eye involvement. Treatment included: 93 % received corticosteroids, 60 % received methotrexate, 46 % received no steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment, 46 % received immunosuppressant therapy, and two cases received biologic therapy. The clinical course showed 34 relapses in 12 cases. Complications included hoarseness in seven cases, tracheal stenosis in six case, and hearing loss in three cases. There were five deaths, three from respiratory complications, one from renal failure and another from a cerebral vascular event. CONCLUSIONS: the fifteen cases with RP presented were characterized by multisystem clinical courses and serious respiratory complications. The diagnostic and therapeutic situations merited highly medical specialized approaches.